"The Pittsburgh Penguins respect the institution of the Office of the President, and the long tradition of championship teams visiting the White House. We attended White House ceremonies after previous championships - touring the historic building and visiting briefly with Presidents George H.W. Bush and Barack Obama - and have accepted an invitation to attend again this year.

Any agreement or disagreement with a president's politics, policies or agenda can be expressed in other ways. However, we very much respect the rights of other individuals and groups to express themselves as they see fit."

The Penguins defeated the Nashville Predators in the Stanley Cup Final this past June.

Please to inform that the Champion Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL will be joining me at the White House for Ceremony. Great team!

OAKLAND -- Steve Kerr is not a frequent tweeter, and when the Warriors coach does engage on Twitter rarely is it related to basketball.

It wasn’t on Tuesday, either, when he posted a pair of two-word tweets that made it obvious he had taken a side in the highly publicized and very contentious Alabama senate race between Doug Jones of the Democratic party and Republican Roy Moore.

Roll Tide is the slogan affiliated with University of Alabama sports, while War Eagle is affiliated with Auburn University, also in Alabama.

“Decency needs to win out,” he said. “This has nothing to do with party affiliation. We need high character people in our positions of leadership. And the more decisions like this we can make, where we choose character over party, we choose country over party, the better off we’re going to be.

“I was very pleased. It’s a good sign. As a country, we need to get away from the partisan divide and start focusing on just quality people, getting good people in positions of leadership. And iron out our difference and promote unity and not try to separate this country. It’s critical.”

President Donald Trump was in support of Moore despite credible allegations from numerous women, saying they were victims of sexual misconduct and assault when they were children. News reports out of Alabama indicated that Moore’s predilection was known by many and has been for years.

Jones, by contrast, was best known as the District Attorney who in the late 1990s successfully prosecuted two Ku Klux Klan members that participated in the bombing of a Birmingham church in 1963, an act of domestic terrorism that killed four black girls, none more than 14 years old.

“Today is a really important day,” Kerr said. “It’s all about high character and values and the way you treat people. I don’t care -- Democrat, Republican, Independent -- had we put a known pedophile in the senate, what would that have said about us?

“Let’s get to the point where this is all about us, and not them. It’s about leadership and character and morality. Let’s be better.”

Kerr provides update on ailing Warriors, 'going to be very careful'

Kerr provides update on ailing Warriors, 'going to be very careful'

OAKLAND -- Despite Tuesday being an “off” day, the Warriors didn’t have much of a practice Wednesday, which may or may not be related to the absence of team firebrand Draymond Green.

Green, who has missed two of the last three games, continues to be excluded from physical activities as a precaution against aggravating his sore right shoulder.

So, for now, the sixth-year forward remains on the sideline, along with guard Nick Young, who is in concussion protocol and, of course, Stephen Curry, who has been out since Dec. 4 with a right ankle sprain.

Though Curry again was at the team facility, working out in the exercise room, he will be out for at least another week and likely longer.

“He’s just going through rehab every day, not on the court,” coach Steve Kerr said, adding that the next update on Curry will come next week.

Green and Young are doubtful for the game against the Mavericks on Thursday at Oracle Arena. Though starting center Zaza Pachulia returned to practice, his status for Thursday also is uncertain.

“I would say Zaza is doubtful for tomorrow,” Kerr said. “Draymond, I’d shocked if he played. It doesn’t make any sense for him to play.”

Kerr cited the general demands of the past few seasons the primary reason for caution with Green. The Warriors have played 308 games -- including 62 in the postseason -- since Kerr arrived before the 2014-15 season.

“Four years in a row, we’re trying to get to The Finals,” he said. “Our guys have played a lot of games. So we’re just going to be very careful.”